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Just be happy doing what you do
Portraits 21/04/2023

Just be happy doing what you do

Damien Tournillon arrived in Singapore through a combination of chance and curiosity. Head of the REIDS Spore microgrid demonstrator, he is also passionate about safety, which he sees as an asset not an obstacle.We asked him a few questions about his career.

We apply safety measures first and foremost for ourselves. To make sure that we stay alive and get back to our families in the evening.

If you told me 15 years ago that one day I would be living in Singapore and speaking English all day long, I would have said, “No way!” But here I am!


I come from the Paris region. After studying electricity engineering on a work/study basis in the Telecoms sector (operations and maintenance), I worked in change management for IT operations. For personal reasons I chose to leave France and travel – and I never came back. My journey took me to Singapore, and I liked the city. So I returned to look for work.
My first job in Singapore was already linked to renewable energies and microgrids, which are still my field at ENGIE. But I started out in a small local company, a start-up. This was more than 10 years ago, and I did a little bit of everything: design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of a microgrid with solar panels, batteries and generators.
After several years, I came across ENGIE through a fairly similar project that launched in Singapore. I wanted to keep working in this sector, which I find exciting, but with a larger organisation and in a more professional environment. At the start-up, I was the only one who understood the issues, and I lacked support.  In France, I had the good fortune to be trained in electrical work and working at height. And I could see the difference in level when I went back to Singapore. Clearly, a small Singaporean start-up is miles away from ENGIE's standards when it comes to safety.
I am currently in charge of the REIDS Spore site – a microgrid demonstrator installed on Semakau, an island off the coast of Singapore. The site includes a wind turbine, solar panels, a hydrogen system, batteries and generators.  As site manager, I am in charge of technicians and the general organisation, including the safety component, which is a key factor in an island setting. People’s safety is particularly important, as firefighters can take some time to respond. In theory, fire department boats can be there within 20 minutes. But if there’s an accident, 20 minutes becomes a very long time. 
The temperature in Singapore is over 30° almost all year round. These are not ideal conditions for outdoor maintenance work in the hot sun. Even if we use local service providers, who are more accustomed to these weather conditions, we are well aware that habits lead to danger. This project is by nature quite complicated, and we take pride in setting an example in terms of safety.
The demonstrator site receives large numbers of internal and external visitors. So it is vital to be flawless on this point. For my colleagues and I, who spend almost all of our time on site, it is also nice to live and work in an atmosphere where you feel safe and where all steps are taken to make sure no accidents happen.

So if I can summarise your role: you are both the Head of the REIDS Spore site and its safety manager?

Yes. Over the years, safety issues have become a real passion of mine. And by joining ENGIE, I have a better understanding of the importance of safety and how simple actions can make a big difference. 
Many people, especially in Singapore, see safety measures only as obstacles – an obligation to comply with the law. But that’s not the case at all. For me, we apply safety measures first and foremost for ourselves. To make sure that we stay alive and get back to our families in the evening.  

You give the impression of being truly passionate about this task!

Yes. I am also passionate about the technologies I work on. My engineering background has allowed me to tackle issues relating to ecology and renewable energies. Being able to handle and develop these innovative technologies on a site like Semakau is an incredible opportunity. 
We have a lot of freedom. We test systems for the future, and the demonstrator offers us a secure and functional framework. I work with people who are passionate about what they do. The members of the team all complement each other. It’s a pleasure to work with people who all contribute something different to the same topic.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My family. Music from the 60s and 70s, like African-American music, jazz and funk.
I have developed a passion for trading over the past year, which takes up a lot of my time. I'm still learning – it's a difficult thing to master. They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice to fully master a subject. So this is an investment in myself. But I think it's worth it in the long run. Psychologically, it's also very challenging. But I enjoy the financial freedom it can bring. 

How would you say that research and innovation are important for the Group and for the world? 

Renewable energy is important because we have no choice if we want to try to save whatever remains. Technology alone won’t be enough. We need to identify combined sets of technologies that are tailored to the location. Different technologies exist, and we create solutions by adapting them all to meet a need and fit an environment.
Research and innovation are crucial for this. Everyone in my team is curious to see what’s out there: the elements that can be adapted, and how to move forward on that. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

I have no specific professional goal. I would like to do something I enjoy, but I would like to grow in the Health, Safety and Environment field. I completed a “Leadership in Safety” training course, and I would like to become one of the trainers. To be able to pass on the importance of these issues to those younger than myself. 
I could also become a full-time trader. So much can happen in ten years! If you told me 15 years ago that one day I would be living in Singapore and speaking English all day long, I would have said, “No way!” But here I am! 

What three words do you associate with innovation?

Dreams, technologies, creativity.
And on the research side: take the risk of testing new things. 

Is there a quote, a phrase or a mantra that means a lot to you?

Just be happy. Be happy doing what you do.

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